This is your summer thriller book, but first admire the cover and dive in!

Geo (Georgina), Angela, and Kaiser are best friends. Angela has it all, looks, personality and popularity. Geo is always in Angela’s shadow, but one night they run into a group of older boys. The most attractive one, Calvin, is surprisingly seeking out Geo, not Angela. He’s the bad boy type, much older and soon enough Calvin and Geo are in a toxic relationship. At a party one night, a tragic turn of events leaves Angela dead.

Secrets that remain buried come back to haunt Geo years later when she is a successful executive and soon to be married into a prominent family. She will be arrested for the participation in Angela’s murder and Calvin is back in her life. The arresting officer is her once best friend, Kaiser who still holds a burning flame for her.

The story goes back and forth in time and is riveting until the very end as these characters lives twist and turn and leave you guessing. Like a jar of cinnamon candy hearts, its’s sweet then uncomfortably hot, but after it’s gone you go back for more knowing it’s going to burn. If you can’t read this in one sitting, you will be thinking about it until you pick it up again. It’s that addicting

Jennifer Hillier is a new author to me and Jar of Hearts is not her first novel. I appreciate an author that pays attention to details and I can’t wait for more!

Thank you, NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, Minotaur Books, and Jennifer Hillier for an advance copy.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier.

It had just the right kind of twist, and even though I figured it out, it wasn't until; the last 80 pages or so. I will definitely be looking for more from this author!

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier was full of secrets and lies. It is a story that will grip you from start to finish. It was a story of friendship, loss, grief and truths. But whose truths?

You have a story of three friends whose life are forever altered when one goes missing. When the remains are found, another of the friends is sent to prison for her part in the murder. Geo, hoping to start over after prison, finds that may be harder than she thought. Now there are new murders.

Jar of Hearts was a thrilling ride full of twists and turns. Lives intersected and forever entangled. Who is causing the new deaths? Has Geo revealed all the truths? What is she still hiding? I was at the edge of my seat trying to guess what would happen next!

Happy reading!

I loved JAR OF HEARTS. I pre-ordered the book months ago but when I lucked upon an advanced reading copy I devoured it in two days--quite rare for me since I'm both a slow reader and don't devote enough time to reading. JAR OF HEARTS demanded my time, however, and I happily gave in.

At this point in my writing career, it's difficult for me not to analyze how the sausage is made, and in JAR OF HEARTS, Jennifer does a few of things particularly well. First, the way the story unfolds is unique, unexpected. It doesn't follow a typical structure which is refreshing and brings me to point two. Jennifer doles out information really effectively in this book, and part of that is the overall way she chose to tell the story. Finally, Jennifer strikes the difficult balance of making me wonder if her protagonist, Geo Shaw, really got what was coming to her (given her crime, which is pretty awful), while at the same time making me sympathize with her to the point of thinking she didn't deserve the punishment she got. Geo is flawed, like we all are, which makes her experiences almost relate-able, as in "what would I do if...?"

I'm excited to see how this book does when it's out in the world. For my part, I hope it sells like crazy. Talk about the perfect summer read!

4.25-4.5 STARS

14 years after 16-year old Angela Wong goes missing, the popular girl’s dismembered remains are discovered in the woods behind her best friend (Geo’s) home. The third member to their trio (Kaiser) is now the cop charged with investigating the teenager’s gruesome demise. And in the process, Kaiser unravels a sordid tale that not only implicates Geo in Angela’s murder, but points him in the direction of a serial killer that Geo once dated.

Alternating between past and present and broken into five parts, “Jar of Hearts” tells the tale of a murdered girl through the point of views of her two best friends, Georgina and Kaiser. While most of the book is written from Geo’s perspective, the chapters devoted to Kaiser’s viewpoint really helps to balance this story out.

This is my first book by author Jennifer Hillier, and after reading her latest novel, "Jar of Hearts," it certainly won't be my last. Compelling and intriguing, this book held me in its grip from beginning till end. However, when it comes to suspense stories, I'm very good at fitting the puzzle pieces together early on. Hence, this story really didn't hold any true surprises. And despite an ending that was a bit farfetched in its execution, I found “Jar of Hearts” to still be an enjoyable read and one I would definitely recommend.

This is a really awesome book with heart pounding action. the twists and turns will keep you guessing until the end. It will grab you by the throat from the very beginning until the last page is read. Don't start this before bedtime. That would be no bueno. You will happily give up chunks of time to read this. Happy reading!

Wow. wow. wow.

I was not expecting this one to be as amazing as it was.

This was one of those novels that could not be more ‘up my alley’ if it tried. Since it is following the POV of Geo (both past and present) and Kaiser, you get this perfect little mash-up genre of psychological thriller with some touches of police procedural (since Kai is a cop who is investigating the case).

I had seen several of my blogging/reviewing friends comment on how the beginning of this novel reminded them of Orange is the New Black, and I found that to be a very spot-on comparison. In the early stages of the novel, Geo is serving her five years in prison and you get all of the prison drama that we all love from OITNB. But we are also exposed to all of the terrible things that women endure in prison (again.. just like in OITNB). I loved this part of the novel. I would have read an entire novel about Geo’s experiences in prison.

The depth of the characters was perfect and I loved how it flipped back and forth between Geo’s high school memories, the night of Angela’s murder, and present day. We spend the majority of the novel following Geo’s POV, but I also really loved those chapters that were sprinkled in that allowed us to get to know Kaiser a little better and get a little extra insight into the investigation.

Until the very end, you will be missing parts of Geo’s story. She makes that very clear in the first few chapters. As readers, we know we are not getting the entire truth.. and I was still just deeply chilled and shocked when I did discover the truth. So many twists in those last several chapters!!!

This novel also has some fantastic themes that you don’t always see in thrillers (although I cannot discuss them in my review, as they would be considered spoilers). And the symbolism of the jar of (candy) hearts was fantastic and I loved the depth that it added to the writing.

This will likely be on my top ten books of the year, simply because it was the perfect genre combination for me and was full of twists and turns and character-driven drama. I will definitely be looking into some of Hillier’s previous publications.



Trigger Warnings: Rape (Multiple), Murder, Gore (Mild), Death of a Child, Drugs, Violence, Domestic Abuse, Loss of Parent, Cancer, Themes of Grief, Loss of a Child



Thank you to Jennifer Hillier and Minotaur Books for providing me with a DRC of this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of three best friends from high school and how the events of one night have shaped their lives. One was murdered, one went to prison, and one became a cop who is determined to find the truth. Angela Wong was the head cheerleader, the girl everyone worshipped, the girl everyone wanted to be. One night she disappeared after last being spotted at a party. Georgina Shaw was inseparable from Angela until she started dating Calvin James. Their friendship was on the mend just as Angela disappeared. Geo fought through the loss and went on to become a highly successful executive at a pharmaceutical company. No one ever suspected she was involved with Angela’s disappearance, especially not their closest friend, Kaiser Brody.

Fourteen years have passed and Kaiser has finally unearthed the truth about what happened to Angela. She was murdered, dismembered, and buried in the woods near Geo’s house. She was a victim of Calvin James, now a notorious serial killer known as the Sweetbay Strangler. Things get worse as Geo is charged in connection with the murder of Angela. Thanks to a plea deal she manages to end up with a reduced sentence of five years in prison. The truth about what happened to Angela Wong is finally out, right? Something is still lurking in the shadows of this case. How far will Geo go to keep the truth hidden?

Jennifer Hillier just killed it in the thriller genre with JAR OF HEARTS! I can’t remember the last time I’ve been this glued to the pages of a book, eagerly anticipating the next reveal that will blow my mind. There were a few times I managed to guess parts of what would happen or bits of what happened on the fateful night in question, but that didn’t stop me from loving the way Hillier revealed the facts. I actually enjoy being able to guess parts in books I read when they aren’t predictable, just as much as I like being surprised. Hillier has a magnificent way of building a story in layers. What I mean by that is every time I thought I knew everything that happened the night Angela disappeared, Hillier told me there was more. The past was woven through the present as flashbacks in a way that flowed with the narrative and what was happening in the present day. I want to keep details of the story as vague as possible because part of what makes this book so great is the experience of learning more about Angela, Geo, Kaiser, and Calvin on your own. This is my first book by Jennifer Hillier and the minute I shut this one I hopped on Amazon and loaded my cart with more of her work. With short, heart-pulsing chapters, that leave you wanting more, JAR OF HEARTS is the perfect read for thriller fans! Be prepared to stay up late with this one bookworms!

4.5 stars
From the beginning to the end, this book caught and held my attention. It was gripping, violent, twisted and suspenseful… a true mystery/suspense thriller. The story was very original, well written, and flowed easily. It’s told from past and present form, back and forth, so you have to read the entire book to find out the whole truth behind the mystery/story.
There were many unlikable characters in this book. I really couldn’t relate to any of the characters, which is totally ok. I read to escape into a different world, and get lost in a story. It was very violent and detailed. It seems in today’s society, writers are always making books more and more violent/gruesome than the last in this genre. I really liked this book; it held my attention throughout, it was interesting and I was very surprised by the turn it took in the ending.
This is the first book I’ve read by Jennifer Hillier, and I look forward to reading more of this same genre from her. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good suspenseful mystery.
*A very special thank you to Minotaur Books and NetGalley for the advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review*

From my blog: Always With a Book:

This is the first time I've read anything by Jennifer Hillier, though I do have her book, The Butcher, sitting on my shelf. Well, I can say with absolute fact that I will certainly be reading more of her books if Jar of Hearts is anything to go by...this book was so good - it was creepy and thrilling and everything I love in a good thriller!

This is most definitely a binge-worthy type of read - I read it in two sittings and was totally immersed in the story from page one. It's broken down into five parts and alternates between Georgina, better known as Geo, and Kaiser's points of view. While most of the story is told in the present day, there are occasional flash backs to when Geo, Kaiser and Angela where in high school - these provided the much-needed background to set up all that was necessary for what was to come. And I loved how these were interspersed throughout the book - they seemed to come up just at the right time.

This book is so full of good twists and surprises that come at you throughout the book - so many that I just did not see coming - and I love that! I read so many thrillers because I enjoy them, but I tend to figure things out or at least have a clue as to where things are heading - but not in this case. And let me tell you - this book is creepy as all get out - somethings that are a bit subtle and some that are in your face creepy! This certainly isn't a book I'm going to be forgetting soon...with the well-developed characters, the strong plot line and the creep factor!

This is definitely a book where nothing is as it seems - in fact I believe that phrase is stated a time or two! It will shock you, it will keep you on your toes and you will be hard-pressed to put this book down once you start reading it. And it will most certainly get under your skin as you try to put all the pieces together - I know it did for me! I absolutely enjoyed this book and will definitely be picking up this author's back list as well as keeping an eye out for what comes next from her!!!

This is a story of three best friends , one murdered , one in prison and the remaining one searching for the truth . Wow !! This book blew me away ! A chilling and disturbing thriller with so many dark secrets ! Full of twists with an intense, explosive ending ! I highly recommend this book !!! Thanks to #Netgalley #St.Martin'sPress and #MinotaurBooks for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review ! #JarOfHearts

This was an interesting thriller that kept my interest although the topics covered were pretty brutal. The ending was a bit implausible but I did enjoy the story.

I had to put this book down a couple times before I finally made myself sit and push through the beginning and I am SO SO glad I did.

This was a great suspense filled story, and was well written. Once the story got to a place that caught my attention, I was captivated. Exploring emotions of grief, guilt and shame, Jar of Hearts really makes you think about what you see versus what is actually there. We see what we want to see, which is said many times in the book, and oh how much truth that holds.

If you are looking for a great read with a lot of suspense and thought provoking words, look no further.

Omg this was a great book that covered everything from life inside a prison to how ex cons are treated. I recommend it for those who like mystery novels with great character development.

How long can you get away with a lie? In Geo's case, about fourteen years and then some. Jar of Hearts is psychological thriller at its finest - unreliable characters, secrets revealed bit by dark and twisted bit, and an ever rising tension with knowing that all is not exactly as it seems. It's a rare thing to find a book that even when you expect a particular twist, you still can't stop turning the pages, but I found that here. The storyline isn't anything especially new in the genre, but the writing style is so completely compelling that I wasn't at all disappointed by that. Hillier managed to take the expected and make it refreshing with her complex and intriguing characters. So much so that I found myself waffling on my feelings for certain characters and even those that I knew should be hated still stirred some sympathy from me at times. There are some graphic and disturbing scenes that are certainly not for the faint of heart, but they are necessary for this plot. To sum it up, Jar of Hearts is a wonderfully written bit of twisted that begs the question of nature versus nurture while peeling back the layers of the past as it comes rushing into the present.

Ok. Okokokokokokokokok this book is brilliant. And if you’ve followed me for any period of time, you know that’s not a word I use often.

JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier is twisty and dark and sick and So. Freaking. Good.

Georgina aka Geo has been haunted ever since her high school best friend, Angela, vanished without a trace. And she’s about to drop a bomb on her former friends and sleepy little town: Geo helped her then-boyfriend, Calvin James, dispose of Angela’s body after he seemingly killed her. This admission connects Angela to a series of three other murders Calvin is convicted of performing.

We meet Geo again as she is released from jail and attempts to return to regular life. She reconnects with Kaiser Brody, the third point of the Geo-Angela-Kaiser friendship triangle, who is now a cop. But once Calvin escapes prison and more grisly murders start happening, all eyes are on Geo and her connection to Calvin.

JAR OF HEARTS is one of the best serial killer/crime thrillers I’ve read. Each chapter leaves just the right amount of cliffhanger that you feel the need to continue. The writing is also intensely graphic in terms of description of unsavory things, but I’m weird and desensitized and ate it right up. And no, the jar of hearts is not a literal jar of hearts. But don’t be fooled, this book is brutal. Beautiful, but brutal. If you are the least bit squeamish, I wouldn’t pick up this book. See below for more content warnings.

I know this is me saying this, but the twist truly comes out of left-field—and it works. It all works. The ending is so satisfying and I closed this book incredibly happy. I am not surprised at all that it’s already been optioned for film. The story is going to translate incredibly well and I guarantee it’ll have Gone Girl / Girl on the Train-hype.

Now excuse me as I go reserve all of Ms. Hillier’s books at the library.

MY RATING: ✰✰✰✰1/2
I ALSO SUGGEST: Final Girls by Riley Sager
**CONTENT WARNING: gratuitous descriptions of murder/crime scenes (including children), rape/attempted rape, domestic violence

Thank you Minotaur Books for my galley! Jar of Hearts is available June 12.

Review: JAR OF HEARTS by Jennifer Hillier

JAR OF HEARTS is a complicated and complex mystery thriller, a feat of psychological horror, in which nothing is as it seems and the frequent twists and revelations carry the impact of knockout punches. I readily admit that more than once, I caught my breath, stunned. It takes an extensive imagination to create a novel this convoluted.

A psychological treatise, as it were, on guilt and wrong decisions, on self-righteousness developed to extremes, on forgiveness and the refusal to forgive, JAR OF HEARTS peels the layers off many characters, primary and secondary, rips off the masks to reveal the secret sides we don't show the world, and propels the reader through breathtaking suspense throughout.

Flawless scenes, gripping writing style and intriguing characters - few of the reasons why I finished reading Jar of Hearts in under a day because I just had to get through it. I love reading Mysteries and Thrillers and there is something about unreliable narrators that just doubles the fun. I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO KNOW how the book would end and what Geo did.

However, I may have read a few too many Mysteries in the past few weeks because I didn't find it too hard to predict the end. I did however enjoy the build up to it as well as the few subtle clues the story gave here and there. The writing is truly commendable.

Amazing book. Great thriller. Really fast read and written well. Great characters and storyline. Loved all of the plot twists! The one at the end was probably my favorite. I wish there was more!

Do our choices have the ability to define us? If so, are those definitions permanent or are they able to evolve and change? "The past is always with you, whether you choose to think about it or not, whether you take responsibility for it or not. Your carry the past with you because it transforms you. You can try to bury it and pretend it never happened, but that doesn’t work."

Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier is a dark, twisty, physiological thriller that is centered on murder, desecration, relationships troubles, cover up, and choices. It is edgy and dark which definitely helped with my enjoyment. This story could be told in a less grisly fashion, not nearly as dark, and it wouldn't have nearly the impact. One thing I really like about the presentation is that as a reader I am driven to focus on some of the depravity that potentially exists in all of us, but for most is contained deep within us, never to see the light, based on the choices we make. It is that place where fiction meets the "real world" that Jennifer takes us to tell her story. Although dark, it is plausible and could easily be ripped out of the headlines in any city around the world.

I very much enjoyed the story telling. I thought the delivery was well done, and the pace of the story moved along well. There were shocking moments that caused me to pause and reflect. The twists and turns were brilliant, some of which I didn't see coming. I also enjoyed the characters. They were well enough developed for their part of the story that I was able to develop feelings for them and opinions of their choices.

An overarching theme to the story is the impact that our choices have on the course of our life, how we are perceived by others, and more importantly, how we end up viewing ourselves. The struggle to find peace internally hinges on our ability to reconcile our choices, learn from them, forgive ourselves if necessary, and move forward. Remembering the past, and being stuck in the past are different as we are reminded throughout the course of this story.

I enjoyed this book and give my thanks to Minotaur Books, Jennifer Hillier, and NetGalley for the advance copy of the book in exchange for my thoughts and review. Fans of edgy, dark thrillers will probably also enjoy this book.